"We deeply regret their decision to ignore their officers' professional advice, as well as the advice of independent planning experts.

"We are confident that there are strong grounds for an appeal, but we need to consider all our options before making a decision.

"Last night's [Wednesday] decision will, at the very least, delay the stadium plans, and does indeed call the viability of a new regional stadium into question.

"We remain ambitious as a football club, both on and off the pitch, which, at the moment, is more than we feel able to say for our city's planners.

Bristol City Council said it had no further comment to make regarding the planning decision.

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Sainsbury's and the football club said they were disappointed at the decision

Southville Green Party councillor Tess Green said: "I think the community made a very good point about why they didn't want a huge supermarket in their midst.

"There is a smaller [Sainsbury's] supermarket just over the road - about half the size - and that serves the community very well.

"People who live locally know that Sainsbury's isn't very crowded now."

In a statement the supermarket said it was disappointed, adding: "Sainsbury's has consulted extensively with a whole range of individuals, groups and organisations in the community since the beginning of the year and we had made a significant number of changes to the planning application as a result of what we heard."